China sentences accused cult leader to 4-year term

BEIJING (AP) — A leader of a religious group whose members are accused of beating a woman to death in a McDonald's restaurant has been sentenced to four years in prison.

The official Xinhua News Agency said Tuesday that Cao Yinhua was convicted of establishing cult organizations, recruiting people and producing preaching materials. She was sentenced by a court in the central city of Wuhan.

Xinhua said Cao was a leader of an unorthodox Christian group called Quannengshen, or "All-powerful Spirit." It is also known as the Church of Almighty God.

Six members of the group are accused of beating a woman at a McDonald's in eastern China in May. The news report gave no indication Cao's sentence was connected to that attack.